Monthly Make...

...started in April, finished in May!

I started this little piece of cross stitch whilst over in Jordan - it was difficult to get much done as it was a very busy - but incredibly enjoyable - time. 

I love the little details, the heart on the door

And the flowers around the window

It was made from one of those freebies from a cross stitch mag, I cant remember which one though.  Perhaps one of you lovely bloggers may recognise it?

I used to do loads of cross stitch, having learned how to do it at an early age (like crochet, cross stitch and I have been partners for decades!!) and have really enjoyed returning to it.  However, I didn't get this little project finished during April, as since I got back from my holiday it has been very hectic indeed.  So I just got it finished this morning - my first chance to do any crafting since returning home.  I love Saturday mornings when I wake up early as I can have some coffee and do some crafting before the crew get into action!

Just need to find a way to display it - I could pop it in a frame but would like to do something more imaginative.  Any ideas?

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Helenxx

April Photo Scavenger Hunt

Hi everyone, time for another Photo Scavenger Hunt - this time for April.  As the first 12 days of April were spent in Jordan the photos are all from that beautiful country once again.  I tried uploading the photos first but then couldnt type above the first one - so picture first, text second this time - well they say a change is as good as a rest dont they?!  OK, so the first item on the list was ROCK - here we have trees and plants growing out of the rock face in Petra.  This photo was taken in the Siq, the mile-long narrow canyon that leads up to the Treasury.

Next up -IN/OUT - this is the entrance to one of the many tombs we visited in Petra.  While we were taking a well-earned rest, a German tour guide came in and started singing - the acoustics were amazing.  The whole effect was quite spine-tingling.

This is the ceiling of the tomb and covers the two challenges of MULTI-COLOURED and AMAZING.  This is not painted, it is the colour of the rock.  It is even brighter in real life - a real wonder of nature.  And even more astonishing as Petra is smack in the middle of the desert. So these colours seem even more eye-popping.

CANT LIVE WITHOUT - water of course!  And boy, did we drink loads of it on that day out to Petra.  The temperature was about 38C - and then we came back to this grey and cold weather - all a bit of a shock!!  In fact, it takes me ages to get back into the swing of things on my return from these trips - each time seems to take longer than the last.  The other day I looked the wrong way to cross the road!  And then yesterday we were looking at a personalised number plate on a car that passed us and quipped "do you think that car is from Turkey"?!  We were so used to seeing the Jordanian plates that anything remotely European looking was usually from Turkey.  People drive there to Jordan.  Another cool thing in Jordan is that you see road signs to all sorts of other countries - so unlike being here when you might spot a sign for Wales (if you live in the Midlands) and Scotland (if you are living up north) in Jordan you regularly see signs for Saudi, Iraq and Syria, and Yemen!!!!!

ON THE MOVE - a centipede spotted in Jerash.  When we visited this ancient city when our kids were small, our second eldest son was reading Harry the Poisonous Centipede, so these are now lovingly known as Harry!  At this time of the year they are everywhere.  They are about 8 inches long - quite cute if you are that way inclined, as we are, but if you dont like mini-beasts, perhaps we should move onto the next pic....

SPRING - this is the black Iris, the national flower of Jordan.  This picture was taken high up on a hillside in the North of the country.  This winter Jordan was blessed with a lot of rain and snow, so this spring was the greenest and most flower-filled that the folks there had seen for many a long year.  And we were lucky enough to witness it.  We had some fun getting to take this picture though, as it was very much "off road" and we were travelling by landrover - the journey up there was like an episode of Top Gear - getting stuck on boulders and then finally breaking down at the top!!  So we went off for a nice walk, let the "rover" cool down, tried again and she fired up!!!  It was such fun as in Jordan people have more times for things, no-one got stressed, we all had a good laugh.  And it was all fine!  Dont worry, be happy....

SMILE - I really did smile when I saw this cat as it looks exactly like one of my darling mum's cats back here in the UK!  We thought she must have sneaked into our suitcases...

TANGLE - this amazing mosaic with its interwoven lines was photographed in Jerash.  My daughter is doing arts award with me at the moment (I teach it at work, so although her school run it she is doing it with me at home instead.  This means she is able to go out on a community action project in a local special school, where she helps out in the classroom once a week for a whole afternoon.  She wants to follow her old mum into the teaching trade, but would rather be in primary/SEN than post-16 with the naughty kids which is what I do!) and her project is looking at mosaic and middle eastern art.  So we were taking loads of pics for her portfolio.

This pic covers both STICKY and INDULGENCE - Jordanian style pizzas.  And then I wonder why I put two pounds on.....

 And finally - direction.  All those dishes pointing up to their respective satellites!  Jordan is such an amazing place, cant wait to go back!

Have a great day, Helenxx

March photo challenge - better late than never!!

Hi everyone!!

As those of you who read my last post will know, things at work had been even more hectic than usual.

So, I took a break from blogging and routine by visiting my favourite place for a holiday - the beautiful Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan!  How lucky am I?  So my holiday started in March and ended on Friday this week - back to work on Monday, but feeling much better for the change of routine.  So all my photos for the March scavenger hunt were taken in Jordan!

So here we go....

Morning:

In Jordan, breakfast is a very big thing - and is a fairly leisurely affair!  It starts around 9ish and lasts for about an hour.  These lovely pasties are just some of the things that are on offer - there is also usually delicious falalfel and hummus, salad, yummy bread of various types, cheeses, yoghurt  etc etc.  Then nothing is needed until the main meal which is usually served around half 3. 

Buttons:

bit tenuous but this lizard's eyes were as bright as buttons!!

Square:

These blocks of stone are situated at the entrance to the Rose Red City of Petra, and are known as the Jinn blocks - these were worshipped by the ancient residents there.

Kitchen:

Traditional kitchens in Jordan tend to have seperate hobs and ovens - all are run on bottled gas.  Here you can see the arabic coffee pot on the boil!! 

Theatre

One of the two amazing Roman theatres at the ancient city of Jerash - such an amazing place to visit.

Street names:

This sign was spotted in Petra!

Fancy:

 very fancy carving, perfectly preserved by the dry desert heat.

Landmark

One of the wonders of the world - no photo can ever do justice to Petra  it is awesome.

Fashion:

These two fine camels sporting the latest in camel fashion wear!!

Words:

on the label of a very refreshing bottle of mineral water, sourced from springs near Petra.

City:

The beautiful Roman city of Jerash, seen at its best in the spring time.

Half a face:

or should I say half a facade?  This is the amazing sight that greets you as you exit the narrow canyon leading into Petra - strike up the Indiana Jones theme tune please!!

I have been truly blessed to visit Jordan again - it was a very much needed break. 

Have a great weekend!

Helenxx

Edible treats from lands quite far away

Hello!

Those of you that read this little blog regularly will know that I have a real love of Middle Eastern food (my mouth is watering just thinking about it).

On a recent trip to Manchester I was deliriously excited when I spotted this in one of the little shops I go to when visiting "up north"

Falalfel mix with a free falafel mould There are 2 packs of falalfel mix - and the whole lot cost less than 3 quid!!!

Here is the mould in more detail, it comes with a little spatula as well

I was also lucky enough recently to receive some lovely Arabic-style coffee - real rocket fuel this

And last, but by no means least, a box of scrummy, delicious baklava

All the way from the beautiful Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.  I love the pictures on the box.  I have been fortunate enough to have visited Petra - what can I say?  Words and pictures simply cannot come anywhere near describing how awe-sinspiringly beautiful it is - to say it is breathtaking is the most massive understatement.

Dont think any of these treats will hang around very long...

Helenxx

Pumpkin tableware

Good morning!

I mentioned a while ago that I was obsessed by all things pumpkin - Im sure you have realised that this is the case after my recent posts!

But I thought you might like to see my collection of pumpkin/autumn inspired tableware - I love using these plates, platters and dishes!

First up, the big daddy of them all - the pumpkin soup tureen:

Little pumpkin snack dishes

Pumpkin plates

Not really pumpkin inspired but this is my candy corn bowl - wish we could find enough candy corn to fill it!!

All of the above came from TK Maxx.  However here is the platter that started off this collection, a lovely gift from my sister in law (this made it back safely all the way from Jordan)

Here is the entire collection

I love them all!

Helenxx

And the winner is.....

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much to those of you who joined in my little competion/giveaway!

So where in the world have I been?

the answer is......

The beautiful country of Jordan!!

Congratulations to the winner - Fruitful Fusion!

Please email me at moonstruckcreations@hotmail.co.uk and tell me what colour you would like your handmade heart to be, and where you would like me to post it to.

(photo courtesy of Visit Jordan Website)

Helenxx

Koosa!

Not so long ago I came across these lovely round courgettes.

So decided that daughter and I would make one of our family's favourites - koosa!

first of all you need to hollow out each courgette with a special tools - dont know if you can buy these here, I got mine from one of my visits to Jordan:

Then you pop a mix of rice, delicious herbs and spices and, if you want, minced meat (or quorn mince if you are a veggie like me!) inside each hollowed-out courgette

Then seal up with a little cap made from a slice of tomatoe

Then stand upright on a heatproof plate

Then into a saucepan with hot water , just enough to almost but not quite cover them and gently cook until courgette is deliciously soft and rice is cooked

And there you have it - yummy koosa ready to eat!

Serve with a salad and greek yoghurt and enjoy!

Helenxx